yophosis - Types of spin tops

TYPES OF SPIN TOPS

There are many types of tops but the following information is about string-wound acrobatic spin tops. These come in different sizes and materials of course, but the main big difference these days is at the tip; fixed tip, bearing tip, or one-way bearing tip.

Fixed tip tops were the only kind around up until around the turn of the millennium when Spintastics, Yo-Yo Jam and Duncan came out with bearing tip tops. Fixed tip just means the tip spins with the rest of the top. Bearing tips spin independently of the rest of the top. Here is a chart to compare the two. We'll talk about one-way bearing tips later.

One-way bearing tips make it possible to regenerate with a bearing top since the bearing spins one way. It still can't wire-walk, but regeneration tricks are way easier. One way bearing tops will usually not spin as long as bearing tops, one way bearings have much more friction surface than regular bearings.

Which type should a beginner get? One of each :) Seriously one fixed and one bearing will keep you busy. One-way bearing tops are a lot more expensive, save them for later, like when you start learning to regenerate.

For size, anything in between 2 and 2.5 inches in diameter is good. Any smaller or bigger increases difficulty for beginners. Heavier tops can be easier to manage than light tops, but the weight should be both at the widest part of the top and at the lowest part of the top. Center weight reduces a top’s spin time. Oh, and just a note; lighter tops don't break televisions.

List of Tops

The following is a list of "recent history to present" spin tops grouped by manufacturer:

Note: tops that are the same mold are listed together and separated by a "/".

This is not a collector's list, it is more of a player's list.

[O.O.P.] = Out of Production

Duncan

Imperial

[O.O.P.] Rip Cord / Bearing King (interchangeable fixed and bearing polycarb tips)

Spintastics

Sidewinder (plastic tip fixed) / Gladiator (metal tip fixed) / Blizzard (metal tip bearing)

[O.O.P.] Hollow Point (hollow aluminum (the first?) with no cap. Sidewinder fits inside for double-top play)

[O.O.P.] Torpedo (plastic version of the Hollow Point)

Hornet (similar to Hollow Point, but with smooth sides and a plastic cap)

Trompo Bearing (Large-ish plastic two-piece top with metal bearing tip)

Trompo Grande (fixed tip, same size as Trompo Bearing, but no recess for inner bearing)

QuickSilver (Same size as the two above but in aluminum)

QuickSilver Hybrid (aluminum body without groves and a plastic cap)

Toycrafter (no longer in business)

[O.O.P.] Monarch (Two-piece glued together plastic w/ plastic tip)

[O.O.P.] Toss-N-Spin wood top

Watts Tops

Generally 4" to 8" diameter solid wood tops with fixed steel tips.

BC (no longer in business)

[O.O.P.] Solid wood top with plastic tip, different paint jobs, all the same shape.

Yo Yo Jam (no longer making tops)

(YYJ tops are generally plastic with brass weight rings and interchangeable fixed and bearing plastic tips)

[O.O.P.] Top Dog

[O.O.P.] Chiwawa

[O.O.P.] Jon Gates

[O.O.P.] Bulldog (similar to Gates, but without brass weight ring)

Yo Yo Factory

[O.O.P.] Acrobat (aluminum, comes with interchangeable bearing and fixed Delrin tips)

[O.O.P.] Throwback (aluminum, comes with interchangeable bearing and fixed Delrin tips)

Short Circuit (plastic, similar proportions to the throwback, fixed tip only)

Elec-Trick (plastic, taller, fixed or bearing options, light-up versions)

Strummol8

(S8 tops are made of Delrin, with convertible from bearing to fixed by adding a washer to lock the shaft. There is also a one-way bearing assembly that could also be played plain bearing or fixed. Tips are hardened steel)

STB

Giulia

Enzo (red Giulia)

Side Effect (black Delrin Giulia)

Titi (upper half made of aluminum)

Sophia (Titi with Teflon ring on the aluminum part)

STB 2.0 (a little taller than the original)

Love (tiny but fully functional S8 top)

Trompos-Space (Spanish Brand)

Saturno Jr. (plastic tip fixed)

Saturno (metal tip fixed)

Saturno Roller (metal tip bearing)

Silver Bullet (aluminum with fixed metal tip, similar to Spintastics Hollow Point)

Jupiter (highly featured plastic spin top with bearing or fixed capabilities)

Mercurio (stainless steel version of the Jupiter)

Neptuno

Cuper

Cuper 360 (Small-ish hollow aluminum with aluminum screw-on cap with fixed steel tip)

Mexican Brands

(There are many, many "models" of Mexican spin tops (trompos), but generally speaking they are a souped-up Duncan Imperial with a metal tip)

Cinco Estrellas

Cometa

Super Trompo

Alien

Extreme

Premier

Spin Top Size Comparison